Rarely is an offensive guard worthy of a top-10 pick, but in the case of Notre Dame’s Quenton Nelson, his rare combination of traits makes him a shoe-in to hear his name called among the 2018 NFL Draft’s elite prospects.

The Chicago Bears, on paper, don’t have a glaring need at guard. Kyle Long and Josh Sitton are two of the NFL’s best at the position, but both players have dealt with a series of nagging injuries that hampered their ability to bring their A-game in 2017.

Related

Long is a fixture and leader on the roster. He’s going to be around for many more years. Sitton, on the other hand, is entering the final year of his contract. At 31-years-old, his best days might be behind him.

Enter Nelson, who could be available at No. 8 despite his top-five talent. The quarterback-needy teams picking in front of the Bears will cause a player like Nelson to slip a few spots lower than he would in a non-quarterback year. Advantage, Chicago.

It’s rare that an interior offensive lineman has a legitimate case to make as the best overall prospect in the draft, but Nelson is the exception. He could have been a fairly early pick in last year’s draft, but another season of experience and refinement has Nelson even more prepared to be an All-Pro right out of the gate.

A massive mover with a rare combination of athleticism, physicality and awareness, Nelson is a 36-game starter who consistently dominates his competition. He should be a top-10 lock who is worthy of top-five consideration.

Related

If he’s still on the board when the Bears are on the clock, expect Pace to take a long, hard look. He’s a blue-chip talent and 10-year starter. While Chicago may have bigger needs at receiver and edge rusher, Nelson’s overall talent level may be too high to pass on.

If he’s the pick, he’ll start from Day One. It could mark the end of Sitton’s run in Chicago, much like when Matt Slauson was released shortly after the Bears drafted Cody Whitehair in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.